Learned helplessness, general and specific

Overview

Learned helplessness and how attributions cause it, general and specific helplessness, its signs and effects, and its links to stability and controllability.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Define learned helplessness.

   Model answer

   Learned helplessness is a belief, gained through repeated failure, that failure is inevitable. The performer feels they have no control over the outcome.

2. 2

   How do attributions lead to learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   Repeatedly blaming failure on internal, stable causes such as low ability builds learned helplessness. The performer comes to see failure as certain.

3. 3

   What is general learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   General learned helplessness is the belief that failure is inevitable in all sports and physical activities. The performer might say they are useless at every sport.

4. 4

   What is specific learned helplessness?

   Model answer

   Specific learned helplessness is the belief that failure is inevitable in one particular sport or skill. A basketball player might feel hopeless only at free throws.

5. 5

   A pupil says, "I'm rubbish at all sport, so there's no point trying." Which type of learned helplessness is this?

   Model answer

   The pupil is showing general learned helplessness. The belief covers every physical activity.

6. 6

   A golfer is confident in every part of her game except putting, which she believes she will always miss. Which type of learned helplessness is this?

   Model answer

   The golfer is showing specific learned helplessness. The belief is limited to one skill.

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